T3 Webinar:

10/21/2008 — Findings and Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Advanced Parking Management Systems for Transit

October 21, 2008

Text version of Webinar presentation:

"Metra Parking Management Guidance System (PMGS)"

Description of image or images on a slide contained in brackets.

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Slide 1: Metra Parking Management Guidance System (PMGS)

Slide 2: RTA Background

[A picture of the RTA rail to rail map appears.]

Heavy and commuter rail
Urban and suburban bus
6 counties, 3,700 square miles, and 260+ municipalities
Second largest transit system in the U.S.
2 million trips per weekday

Slide 3: PMGS Description

[A picture of a dynamic message sign that describes the availability of parking spaces at the Metra parking facility appears.]

Part of the RTA's Transit ITS Plan
System Objectives
- Provide real-time space availability in commuter rail station parking facilities
- Allow customers to make critical and timely decisions on their commuting options

Slide 4: PMGS Goals

More effective use of existing transit infrastructure
- Increased transit ridership
- Greater parking efficiency
Increased customer satisfaction
- Information availability
- Reduced parking lot circulation times
Improve corridor operations
- Reduced congestion
- Incident management tool
Air quality improvements

Slide 5: Participating Entities

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Metra Commuter Rail
City of Mokena
Village of Tinley Park
Cook and Will Counties
Illinois Department of Transportation

Slide 6: PMGS History

[This slide contains four pictures of the historical aspects of the PMGS' site selection (a snowy road), system design (component mapping), installation (bulldozer at work), and operation (car at an intersection with a dynamic message sign in the background.]

Slide 7: Site Selection: PMGS Demo Corridor

[A map of the site selection along the PMGS demo corridor appears.]

Peak Parking Occupancy
Total # of Unrestricted Spaces
Proximity to Expressways
Inter-Station Groups

Slide 8: (No title)

[A map of eight dynamic message signs in various locations throughout the Metra parking system appears.]

Slide 9: Design: System Configuration

[A diagram of the flow of information from the vehicle detectors to the field processor to the dynamic message signs appears.]

Slide 10: Technical Lessons Learned

[A photo of two traffic lanes with orange dividers appears.]

Consider future lot expansion in selecting sites
Carefully evaluate sign locations
Brainstorm possible factors that could impact accuracy of vehicle counts

Slide 11: Contact Information

Gerry J. Tumbali
312-913 - 3251
tumbalig@rtachicago.org